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Yellow Cab Joins Crime Fighting Program
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Police Chief Jeff Dine (white shirt) was joined by Speedway officers Sgt
Alan Jones and Major Chuck Upchurch (far left) during Friday's announcement.
Photo by Jay Thompson |
(posted May 17)
Within a short time, Peace in the Streets - Stop the Violence has emerged
from the Christamore House into a city-wide message. The community based
pro-active crime prevention program took another step forward on May 15
by becoming the centerpiece of a partnership among The City of Indianapolis,
Speedway Police Department, Crime Stoppers, and Yellow Cab.
Mayor Greg Ballard said "Everybody knows that public safety is job
one in this city," when touting the new alliance between local law
enforcement and cab drivers to help improve community policing. He dubbed
cab drivers "ambassadors of the city" because they are often
the first to notice when something is not right in the neighborhoods.
"The cab drivers are such powerful resources for sharing important
information with citizens and visitors alike, and we want everyone to know
where to turn for help and how to make this a safer city for everybody,"
Ballard said.
Yellow Cab President and CEO Scott Beauchamp approached the city about
joining the program. Yellow Cab has experienced the tragedy of violence.
He said in 2006, the company had a cab driver murdered. He noticed the
Peace in the Street signs and the message resonated with him. He said the
program fits the company's philosophy. "There is a way to break the
cycle of violence," he said.
The Mayor's goal is to keep the homicide rate in double digits this year.
The city is number one in the nation for solving homicide cases. He noted
that homicide has dropped 30% and crimes against people by 20%.
Public Safety Director Scott Newman said the first impression many visitors
experience after contact with airport personnel is with cab drivers. He
said they will notice that there are no bulletproof barriers between the
drivers and passengers, leading visitors to perceive that Indy is "a
safe, sane decent, caring community." Emergency phone numbers are
being posted on the outside and inside of cabs in case passengers experience
or witnesses a crime. "The police department will act to protect visitors,
citizens and cab drivers."
Speedway Police Department Chief Jeff Dine said "the cliche we like
for everybody to remember is obviously 'Hear it See it, Report it.' It
is very simple." He also said "we all share the same responsibility
in our attack on our fight to handle crime and need to report crime."
The failure to report a crime is indirectly encouraging the activity to
continue.
Peace in the Streets - Stop the Violence started when Deputy Mayor Olgen
Williams was director of the Christamore House.
Aaron Williams, IMPD special projects coordinator, assisted with developing a 21 week educational Peace in the Streets program to help the youth with community policing and conflict resolution. He said the program started from a homicide in Haughville. The people became tired of the violence. Williams has also promoted the program with the Eagledale Lafayette Square Area Weed and Seed.
John Conley, IMPD Chief of Operations, called Peace in the Streets "The
hammer in the tool box," that helps displace crime in neighborhoods.
He said is its difficult to quantify the results of the program because
it is just one tool in community policing.
Metropolitan Development PIO Officer John Bartholomew explained that Speedway became involved because of the large crowds that attend the race events.
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